so here are some more pictures of the packing extravaganza! We will be at Logan in about 10 hours! that is crazy!

Good to go!

It is hard to believe that the trip has finally arrived. I have been thinking about it all week, even during my various college tours! During my visit to Boston College, our guide made a point of how 90% of the students at BC participate in some form of community service. Traveling all over the world to help in some way or another, the students take service very seriously. This made me think about how important our trip is and how big of an impact we will have on the lives of those in need. These experiences will not only help us with the remainder of our high school days, but will guide us as we begin our lives as college students. We have an amazing group of people on this trip, and I look forward to sharing these life changing experiences with each and every one of them. Wish us luck!
-Kirk N.

Ready to GO

Similar to Joanna, I have also spent the first week of break doing a laborious task. After taking Driver's Ed from 8-3, Monday-Friday, I am ready to get out. I am very excited for the DR to be able to help, and leave an overall lasting impression. Having the past week to recover from the donation-packing was great, and now I'm ready to go. I cannot wait for the warm weather, and to to spend the week helping others with all of you.
See you all before sunrise tomorrow,
David

Unas noticias de Senora Baez

Saludos!Some of you know how proud I am of you all for having the courage and heart to participate in this type of service in my parent´s native country. I hope for you all the best and thank you. I wanted to share with you the following website that my Spanish AP students visited this past week to learn more about the bateys. I find it to be well done and should remind you that you are a part of history. Also, feel free to ask your student trip leaders about the history and culture of the DR;>Here's the site: http://www.dominicanbatey.org/Much love,Señora Báez (aka Mariposa in honor of these ladies: http://www.el-bohio.com/mirabal/)
March 14, 2009 10:00 AM

DR!!!

Looking back over the past few weeks, it still amazes me how quickly this trip has snuck up on me. Usually I start counting down the seconds until I leave home for a trip the minute I find out I'm going; but with school, collecting donations, and all the other obligations we all have I kept thinking of the DR trip as being in the far away future. Ever since last Friday when we packed all the donations, however, (I can't BELIEVE we have so much stuff, by the way) leaving for the DR has been on my mind.
Right now, with 2 days left to go, I can't wait to begin the trip. I'm excited for the obvious reasons: I've never been out of the country before and the DR is sure to be absolutely beautiful, as well as because the opportunity to help people living in a completely different culture is something I've never had before.
I hope to gain a new perspective on priorities and what's important. I'm expecting a bit of a culture shock, but I hope that I can appreciate how the villagers and people we will meet can live on so much less than what we have on a daily basis. Basically, I hope and expect that this trip will help me open my eyes to the rest of the world.

-Shyloe

The Trip

I can't begin to explain how excited I am for this trip. This first week of spring break I have been visiting colleges and the whole time I've had this trip on my mind. Last Friday when we were sorting donations I was surprised as to how much our Moses Brown community contributed to the trip and I want to thank them all for doing so. In just a couple of days we will be leaving for this trip. I believe this will be a great experience for all of us not just in the medical field but I am certain we will learn alot from just the lives we will be seeing. I am excited to converse with the people of the bates in Spanish. I am hoping that my Spanish will help me better communicate with the people. I am hoping that when we all return from this trip we are more than satisfied with the experience and wishing to return.

Getting Excited for the Trip?!

In 2007, I went on this service trip under the leadership of Katey Parker and Lindy Nash, unsure of what to expect and what to do. The trip turned into an experience that changed my life as well as the other students' lives. I wish that everyone had the experience that we will have, learning more about themselves as we travel to the bateys and about the completely different culture that we encounter. Each batey, we see different people, but no matter who you are helping, their smiles capture their appreciation for what we are doing for them. Two years ago, I learned from the children in the bateys that materialism, which is extremely prevelent in America's society, is unimportant, but what is important is to have dreams, to have your family, friends, and community, and to live life with as much happiness as possible.
I am excited to return to the Dominican Republic to experience everything again, as well as all the new experiences that await us upon arrival. I am excited to share this opportunity with a new group of students, all of whom are just as excited and enthusiastic about this trip.
As I just returned home from Phoenix, I am ready once again to be in a warmer climate.
We only have three more days until our arrival to Logan airport at 4:00 am on Sunday morning to embark on our trip. I know that is what I am most looking forward to... It's between that and seeing the smiling faces of the children as we pull into the bateys.

Marcela D.